In European countries, the edible mushrooms from the Boletus genus are the most frequently harvested of all the forest species gathered in the wild. Their popularity is mainly due to their sensory qualities, in particular aroma, taste and texture. In the present work, a targeted metabolites analysis was performed in six wild Boletus species. The analysis of primary metabolites revealed proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid, sugars, mainly mannitol and trehalose, and vitamins (tocopherols and ascorbic acid). Secondary metabolites, such as phenolic acids, were also identified and quantified, and correlated to Boletus antioxidant properties including free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition. As a source of these important metabolites, the edible Boletus spp. could be directly used in the human diet as health foods, taking advantage on the synergistic and/or additive effects of all the antioxidants present, while inedible species could represent a source of extractable phenolic compounds to be used as additives in the food industry or as components in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations.
